THE MINOR MANORS OF 
NEW YORK 



THE MINOR MANORS OF 
NEW YORK 

ADDRESS PREPARED FOR 
THE NEW YORK BRANCH 

OF 

THE ORDER OF COLONIAL LORDS 
OF MANORS IN AMERICA 


JOHN HENRY LIVINGSTON 
OF 

CLERMONT 

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1923 


Coffecfed 



£ 7 & ' 
.11 






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Old Billopp House, Tottenville See P ase 16 
































THE MINOR MANORS OF THE 
STATE OF NEW YORK 


Ladies and Gentlemen: 

In addition to the well known Manors which have been pre¬ 
sented to us in many interesting addresses, it seems proper for 
us to consider briefly those Manors which ceased to exist shortly 
after their respective grants were made. These were the 
Fordham, the Sophy, the Fox Hall, the Cassiltown, the Bentley 
and the Fletcher Manors. 

THE MANOR OF FORDHAM 

This Manor, situated in Westchester County, N. Y., was 
granted to John Archer of Fordham November 13, 1671, by 
Governor Francis Lovelace. 

It appears, however, from an account given in Scharfs 
History of Westchester, that Archer, before obtaining his 
Manor grant, had mortgaged his property to Cornelis Steenwyck 
of New York, to whom the rents were made payable. Again 
in 1676 Archer made another mortgage of his property to 
Steenwyck, and although he had the privilege of redeeming it, 
he seems never to have done so. In the words of that eminent 
authority upon New York manors, Edward Hagaman Hall, 
Esq., L.H.D. 

“Steenwyck evidently was recognized as proprietor in 1684, 
when he and his wife made their wills bequeathing their interest 
in the Manor to the Nether Dutch Reformed Church of New 
York. Steenwyck died soon afterwards and on Oct. 16, 1685, 
John Archer, son and heir of the first John Archer, executed a 
release of his interest in the Manor to the Widow Margaretta 
Steenwyck. Margaretta married Dominie Henricus Selyns, 
and on Ian. 10, 1694, thev conveyed the Manor to the Dutch 
Church.” 

Towards the end of a very interesting description of the Manor 
of Fordham, Dr. Hall adds, “In short, Fordham Manor does 
not appear to rank with Philipse Manor and the other great 

5 


Manors. The royal charter does not call it a ‘lordship’ like 
the charter of Philipse Manor, nor does it give the right to hold 
court leet and court baron like the Philipse charter.” 




THE SOPHY MANOR 


This Manor was granted July 25, 1672, by Governor Francis 
Lovelace to John Paine, of whom and of whose Manor is given 
a full account in the work entitled “Paine Genealogy, Ipswich 
Branch” by Albert W. Paine of Bangor, Maine. 

From this account we learn that the grantee, “John Paine, son 
of William, was born in England in 1632, and came to America with 
his father at the age of three years, and made a part of his father’s 
family at Watertown and Ipswich. He married Sarah Parker, 
daughter of Richard Parker, in 1659, and took up his residence 
in Boston. The various enterprises, in which his father was 
engaged at death, he continued, and especially his mills at 
Watertown, Iron Works at Lynn, trade at Boston and Ports¬ 
mouth, and that of the ‘Free Adventurers’ in Western Massachu¬ 
setts. He was also interested in business at Ipswich, and at 
Dover and Exeter. He appears to have been a man of great 
business capacity and enterprise. ” 

“Just prior to his father’s death, the Legislature had, upon 
his and others’ petition, ordered negotiations entered into with 
the Dutch government, for the purpose of securing the free 
navigation of the Hudson river, by Fort Aurania, and thence 
to the ocean. Soon after his father’s death, John Paine ap¬ 
peared at New York for that purpose, as also to adjust the 


6 



“Prudence Island or ‘Sophy Manor.’ 

southern boundary of the Colony. The Dutch having about 
that time been conquered at home, the result was that they 
evacuated New York, and of course the English succeeded to 
the right of free navigation, without conflict.” 

The author of the Paine Genealogy then gives the following 
account of the granting of the Manor, but it must be borne in 
mind that there were two grants, one “ Given under my Hand & 
Sealed with the Seale of the Province, at fforte James in New 
Yorke, this 25th day of July in the 24th Year of the Reigne of 
our Soveraigne Lord Charles the Second of England, Scotland, 
ffrance & Ireland, King, Defender of the ffaith &c: Annoq 
Domini 1672. 

(Seal) Francis Lovelace.” 

and the other dated August 1, 1672, whereby were granted 
certain “Orders & Priveledges for y* 3 Welfare & Good Governm* 
of Prudence Island.” 

“While thus in New York, in 1671, he became intimately 
acquainted with Gov. Lovelace, who had just then, on the re¬ 
tirement of the Dutch, assumed the governorship of the Colony, 
under appointment from King Charles II., and was then engaged 
in the erection or ‘re-edifying’ of Fort James, situated ‘at the 
point of land formed by the Hudson river and the Sound.’ 
This was at the foot of Broadway, at or near the spot now known 
as ‘Bowling Green.’ 

“Previous to this time, as a wedding gift, his wife’s father, 
Richard Parker, had conveyed to Paine a tract of land con¬ 
taining about 700 acres at the north end of Prudence Island, 
situate in Narragansett bay, near Providence, R. I., which 
gave him an interest therein, and led to the following very 
romantic history. But for the indubitable proof of its accuracy, 
it might be regarded as a tale of fiction. The historian of 
Rhode Island briefly relates the leading facts, but the particulars 
and the identity of the principal actor have never before been 
fully established, though often attempted. A careful investiga¬ 
tion, however, has brought out both the facts and the actor into 
full light. 

“After the conveyance by Richard Parker to Paine as already 
mentioned, upon the occasion of his marriage, the latter had 
mortgaged the same lands to Samuel Appleton to secure the 
£1500 legacy made in his father’s will to the Appleton grand¬ 
children, and still later he had also made a conveyance of the 


7 


same property in trust for the benefit of his own three daughters 
according to the verbal agreement made at the time of the 
wedding gift. 

“The intimacy which grew up between Gov. Lovelace and 
Paine, led the latter to aid in the erection of the fort already 
mentioned, and also to its furnishing, by advancing the neces¬ 
sary means out of his own private resources. By this act of 
munificence, he so far won the favor of the Governor and the 
Duke of York, afterwards King James II., that a patent or 
‘confirmation’ was made by them to him of the island named, 
to be held in fee as a Free Manor by the name of ‘ Sophy Manor’ 
forever. 

“The patent was made subject to the annual quit-rent of 
‘two barrells of syder and six couple of capons.’ This was in 
August, 1672. The following week, Paine was made Governor 
of the island for life, with a council to be chosen from the 
inhabitants, and courts of limited jurisdiction and a regular 
constitution of government was ordained and promulgated for 
the people, one article of which asserted the principle of religious 
freedom, as then understood. On account of further payments 
made towards finishing the fort, he was released from the 
quit-rent and the island relieved from taxes. This latter was 
more particularly granted in consideration ‘ that the said island 
lying so remote from any fortified place within the Duke’s 
territories, so that they cannot expect any sudden aid or relief, 
but must depend upon their own capacities, as well relating to 
men, as all other warlike provisions for their defense against 
foreign invasions, or disturbance by the natives at home.’ 
The island was thus held by him in fee and as an absolutely 
independent state, the smallest in America, being about six 
miles long and one broad. His commission as Governor for 
life was soon after confirmed. 

“The ‘Patent’ and ‘Commission’ thus granted are now on 
file in manuscript in the Capitol at Albany. Their curious and 
interesting character renders their publication here, from copies 
obtained for the purpose, as peculiarly appropriate, and im¬ 
portant to a full understanding of the history.” 

After reciting in full the two above named grants, which are 
too long to be included in this address, the author continues as 
follows: 

“His (John Paine’s) authority and government were, how¬ 
ever, of short continuance. His grant was alleged to conflict 


8 


with a previous one made by the celebrated Indian Chief 
Canonicus, in 1638. to Roger Williams and Gov. Winthrop, 
and his effort to exercise authority aroused the spirit of the 
Colony. He was at once arrested and thrown into prison, but 
released on bail. At the court of Trials he was indicted under 
the law of 1658 for unlawfully attempting to bring in a foreign 
jurisdiction, or for ‘intrusion,’ for setting up a new government 
within the limits of a former one, without due authority. In 
this emergency he appealed to the Governor, but he had no 
power to stay the proceedings, and John Paine was put on trial 
before the jury. He argued his own case in writing, but it was 
unavailing, and he was found guilty. Here the matter stopped, 
he retiring from the conflict, surrendering his position and 
claim, and nothing further was done in the matter.” 

After introducing a copy of this argument, the author then 
states that “Mr. Paine is related to have died at sea in 1675. 
On Dec. 29, 1674, he made a deed, and the Legislative resolve 
making him a grant of land already alluded to, was passed in 
May following. He probably died soon after. His wife had 
died before him, as had probably also his three daughters, or 
at least we have no information concerning them after the trust 
deed mentioned made for their benefit in 1669. It is quite 
apparent, that before his death, he had been unfortunate in 
business and lost his property, though there is no certainity 
that it was so. He left no will and no administration was 
taken out on his estate. The only entry in Probate is, that 
‘Oct. 31, 1676, Richard Knight was empowered to administer 
upon the estate of John Paine deceased.’ He had four children: 

“79. William , born March 15, 1664. 

“80. Sarah. 

“81. Hannah. 

“82. Anna. 


“Coat of Arms 

“It has already been mentioned in a previous part of this 
work, (Page 33), that both, John Paine now spoken of, and 
his father, used the Coat of Arms known as ‘ The Arms of Payne, 
of Market Bosworth, County of Leicester, and of the County 
of Suffolk,’ thus showing the identity of their lineage with that 
of the Leicester and Suffolk family, and as probable successors 
of Hugh de Payen of Templar fame. The proof of this fact 

9 


properly finds a place at this point of their history. That the 
father did so use it, is evidenced by the ‘Collections of the 
Massachusetts Historical Society,’ among which are preserved 
his genuine signature and seal; copies of which are given in 
‘Vol. vii., Fourth Series,’ on page vm., of ‘Fac Similes of 
Signatures and Seals,’’ as published by that society. 

“That John Paine, the son, so used it, is also evidenced by 
Arnold’s History of Rhode Island, and also by the Heraldic 
Journal, but more certainly by the fact, that the documents or 
letters already described, as now existing in the State House at 
Albany, written by him in connection with the Prudence Island 
business, contain both his signature and seal in at least three 
different instances. As used by him, the seal has the added 
item of a helmet introduced between the shield and the crest. 
From one of these papers, the following engraving of a photo¬ 
graph copy of both seal and signature has been executed.” 1 

FOX HALL MANOR 

This Manor was granted by Governor Francis Lovelace 
October 16, 1672, to Captain (afterwards Major) Thomas 
Chambers. 

A full account of “The Erection of Foxhall Manor” is given 
in the magazine formerly published at Kingston, N. . Y. 
(now no longer in publication) called “01d E Vlster” in Volume 
II, No. 4, for April 1906, as follows. 

“OLD E VLSTER 

Vol. II April, 1906 No. 4 

11 The Erection of Foxhall Manor 

Having allotted lands to the disbanded soldiers along the 
Esopus, with a special tract to the widow of Captain Brodhead 
‘in regard to her great charge, and her being a commissioned 
officer’s widow,’ the Esopus was formally proclaimed to be 
subject hereafter to ‘ the Duke’s Laws,’ already provided for the 
government of Long Island. These provided an annual court 
to meet once a year in the City of New York, although the 
governor and council might proclaim an oyer and terminer for 
the trial of capital cases at other times. It provided for inferior 
courts three times a year in every riding throughout the prov¬ 
ince, with jury trials, and local courts in every town. Lands 
were to be held under the Duke of York, and all persons were 

1 See cut at the head of the account of “The Sophy Manor” 

10 



required to bring their old grants and take out new patents 
from Governor Nicolls. No land purchases from Indians were 
to be valid without the governor’s consent, which could not be 
obtained until the Indians who sold the land appeared in person 
before commissioners from the governor and acknowledged 
that they had been satisfied. No sale or barter with the savage 
in furs, fire-arms, ammunition or strong drink was allowed 
without a license from the governor. 

“The free and tolerant exercise of religious worship enjoyed 
under the Dutch was continued; slavery was recognized, and 
its abuse guarded against; an enrollment of the militia above 
the age of sixteen made, and stocks and a pillory were ordered 
to be set up in every town. 

“The lands so far undivided at Hurley and Marbletown, 
amounting to some seven hundred acres, were laid out into 
thirty acre lots. Here were the disbanded soldiers’ lands 
(See Vol. I, Page 264). Marbletown became a village of fifty 
houses, mostly built of logs, and largely the homes of those who 
had been in the military service. In process of time the village 
houses were abandoned as the villagers erected better dwellings 
upon their several farms, and the village of Marbletown became 
but a memory while it grew to be the name of the region between 
the great Rochester patent and Hurley and Kingston. 

“No colonial governor of New York could quietly administer 
its affairs without keeping an eye upon the French in Canada. 
Before one hundred years were to elapse a mighty struggle 
between Great Britain and France was to decide the fate of this 
continent, and during all these years the executive of New York 
was to be alert. The summonings to military service against 
the French were frequent but actual service was rare. The 
Indians of the Hudson were of Algonquin stock, and kin to the 
allies of the French. The whites of the Esopus were still too 
weak to allow the stockades to be dismantled, and renewed 
alarms from the Canadian Indians led to an order in 1671 to 
rebuild the old palisaded stockade of a dozen years before. It 
was reconstructed and strengthened, and was now three hundred 
and seventy-nine and one-half rods long,—more than a mile in 
circuit. Hurley and Marbletown built block-houses (See Vol. 
II, Page 60). 

“But no troubles with the French arose on this occasion. 
The Dutch, and their successors the English, had powerful 
allies in the Iroquois, who kept the French sufficiently employed 
to have them leave the valley of the Hudson alone. Olde 

11 


Ulster has often spoken of the service this great and powerful 
confederacy had rendered the people of the Esopus when the 
Indians of the Esopus gave trouble. Former numbers have 
told of their influence in securing the captive women and 
children and on other occasions. It were well to digress long 
enough to make a fuller recognition. There was rarely a 
negotiation with the tribes of the Hudson at which Iroquois were 
not present. 

“The Five Nations, as they were called, were the five tribes 
of Central New York,—the Mohawks, the Oneidas, the Ononda- 
gas, the Cayugas and the Senecas. They called themselves 
The People of the Long House.’ In their figurative speech 
the Mohawks guarded the eastern door at Tribe’s Hill on the 
Mohawk river while the Senecas kept the western door at 
Geneseo on the Genesee. At Onondaga Hill the warriors of 
that tribe kept the central council fires always burning. In 
1712 the Tuscaroras came from the Carolinas and united with 
them and they became the Six Nations. 

“In 1618 the Dutch at Albany under Jacob Eelkens made a 
treaty with them at what is now Norman’s Kill but known to 
the Indians as ‘ the Vale of Tawasentha.’ This treaty remained 
unbroken until the Indians met the problem of the Revolu¬ 
tionary War and unfortunately took the sides of the British, 
except the Oneidas who were friends of the Americans because 
of the influence of the missionary among them the Reverend 
Samuel Kirkland. That treaty with Eelkens was always 
fondly alluded to by the Iroquois as ‘The Silver Covenant 
Chain.’ Students of our colonial history find old documents 
full of allusions to that chain on the part of these warriors 
whenever they spoke at conferences. We find Indians on such 
occasions from as far east as New Hampshire; as far south as 
South Carolina and as far west as Illinois meeting in these 
conferences before the Revolution and asking to be bound, also, 
with this silver covenant chain. It kept the French in Canada 
from extending their territory over what is now the eastern 
part of the United States and finally secured to England the 
expulsion of the French from Canada. 

“The power of the Iroquois arose after the discovery of 
America by Columbus. Into a rude confederacy these five 
tribes united themselves. They were not the largest of the 
tribes of North American Indians. But they were strong, 
virile men. They grew in time to dominate the whole North 
American continent and finally fell because they mixed them- 

12 


selves in the Revolution, a war which did not concern them and 
a strife which their wisest chieftains, as Big Tree, advised them 
to have nothing to do with. The British led them into the 
battle of Oriskany where hundreds of them were slaughtered; 
this led them to seek revenge at Cherry Valley, Wyoming, 
Fantine Kill, Minisink and elsewhere, and this led to Sullivan’s 
expedition and the breaking down of the confederacy. 

“The power and the dread of the Iroquois in the days when 
they dominated the Indian tribes of the United States has been 
fittingly set forth in the words of the poet, Alfred B. Street, in 
lines school boys knew fifty years ago: 

“The fierce Adirondacs had fled from their wrath, 

The Hurons been swept from their merciless path; 

Around, the Ottawas, like leaves, had been strewn, 

And the lake of the Eries struck silent and lone. 

The Lenape, lords once of valley and hill, 

Made women, bent low at their conqueror’s will. 

By the far Mississippi, the Illini shrank, 

When the trail of the Tortoise was seen on the bank; 

On the hills of New England the Pequod turned pale; 

When the howl of the Wole swelled at night on the gale 
And the Cherokee shook in his green, smiling bowers 
When the foot of the Bear stamped his carpet of flowers.” 

*The tortoise, wolf and bear being the names of the different clans or 
families. 

“We would remark before we return to our narrative that 
the haughtiness of these Indian warriors rankled in the bosoms 
of those over whom they dominated. One of the causes of the 
uprising of the Esopus Indians in 1663, after they had promised 
to keep the peace, is given in an old document as that a delega¬ 
tion of these supercilious warriors had passed through the 
villages of the Esopus Indians on its way to the southern tribes 
and the disdainful Iroquois had noticed not an Esopus warrior 
but had strode along with eyes directly in front as they passed. 
Such contempt was more than they could bear. 

“We will return to the narrative of events. During all the 
troubles with the Indians the people at the Esopus had relied 
upon the counsel of Captain Thomas Chambers. Had he but 
had his way in negotiating with them it is probable that he would 
have proved as politic and shrewd as Arendt van Corlaer and 
Peter Schuyler at Albany and instead of the Esopus Indians 
becoming the enemies of the settlers they might have been as 
fast friends of them as the settlers at Albany became of the 
Iroquois. But they were not and the blame did not rest upon 
Chambers. 


13 


“He was ambitious. He had been with the van Rensselaers 
and their wide domains and landed estate had aroused his deter¬ 
mination to become the possessor of a like relation to the 
development of the Esopus. Manorial rights and possessions 
gave the owner of them in England a position that was enviable. 
The miles of spreading farms placed yan Rensselaer in similar 
relations up the Hudson. He would occupy that relation to the 
Esopus. Esopus had become the Egypt of the colony and was 
feeding it not only, but its corn and wheat were the provision of 
West Indies. During this year of 1672 twenty-five thousand 
schepels of corn had been raised on the lowlands of the Esopus. 

“On the 16th of October of this year his lands at the Esopus 
were erected into a manor by patent and he became Lord of 
the Manor of Fox Hall. His patent is thus worded: 

“A Priviledg e ” Granted to Cap t Thomas Chambers, for ye Erecting 
ffox Hall into a Manno«. 

“Francis Lovelace Esq r &c: Whereas Capt. Thomas Chambers Justice of 
Peace at Esopus hath been an ancient Inhabitt in those parts, where hee 
hath done signall & notable Service in the time of the warrs against the 
Indyans, & having by his Industry in the time of Peace acquired a consider¬ 
able Estate, of which hee now stands possest, Amongst the rest having a 
Mansion house not farr from the Towne of Kingston commonly called 
ffox Hall , with a great Tract of Land thereunto belonging, w ch said House is 
made defensible against any sudden Incursion of y e Indyans or others; In 
ackowledgmt of the Services heretofore done by the Capt. Thomas Chambers , 
& in part of recompence thereof, I have thought fitt to Erect the said 
Mansion house called ffox Hall & Land belonging to it into a Manno r 
to be known by ye name of the Manno r of ffox Hall , the w ch shall for 
the time to come bee held, deemed, reputed, taken, & bee, an entire 
infranchized Manno 1- of it selfe, and shall allways from time to time 
have, hold, & enjoy like & equall priviledges with other Manno rs within 
the Govermt, & shall in noe manner or anywise bee under the Rule, Ord r 
or Direction of any Towne Court, but by the Generali Co r t of Assizes, 
or from time to time y e said Capt. Chambers shall receive Ord rs or Direc¬ 
tions from y e Govern 1, & his Councell. 

“Given under my hand & Seale at ffort James in New York this 16th 
day of Octob r in y e 24th yeare of Ma ties Reigne, Annoque Domini 1672.” 

“The manor of Fox Hall lay to the north of the present city of 
Kingston and included the land latterly known as the Van 
Leuven and Kiersted farms. But its bounds were much greater 
than these. Chambers’ tract extended to Rondout where he 
was buried with his family. 

“Governnor Thomas Dongan issued a new patent in 1686 
confirming this of Governor Lovelace in which he detailed the 
manorial rights of Chambers and added one hundred acres to 

14 


his domain. He then ‘allowed him one leet court and court 
baron.’ By the leet court, which was a court of record, and 
was held twice a year, he could try and punish misdemeanors. 
The court baron was for civil cases. Having no children 
Thomas Chambers adopted a child of his wife, entailed the 
property and made him heir on condition he assumed his name. 
But the heirs of that son broke the entail, divided the estate and 
early in the last century it passed from the family. Fox Hall 
is but a memory to-day, the site of the manor house is in dispute, 
the Lord of the Manor lies in an unmarked grave, the records 
of the leet court are lost and the sterling services the laird 
rendered the infant settlement have to be searched for among the 
dusty documents of the past.” 

As stated in this article, Thomas Chambers died childless 
and though his adopted son was called the second Lord of the 
Manor, it was by courtesy only, for the Manor was never 
confirmed or in any way granted to him by Royal authority, 
so his descendants may not be recognised under the rules and 
regulations of our Order as eligible to membership therein. 

THE MANOR OF CASSILTOWN 

This Manor was granted to John Palmer by Governor Dongan 
March 31, 1687. It consisted of lands on the north side of 
Staten Island and also a “Great Island of Salt Meadow near 
the fresh Hills over against Long Neck.” 

This grant was however conveyed by the grantee, very shortly 
after its inception, to Governor Dongan, as appears from a 
letter, dated May 15, 1920, written to your President by the 
Secretary of The Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, 
wherein the writer, after some preliminary remarks, states 
“In brief I may say that the patent for the manor of Cassiltowne 
was granted to John Palmer in 1687, but conveyed by him to 
Governor Dongan a fortnight later. Dongan built his manor 
house in 1688 and it stood until burned in 1878. Of Palmer no 
trace remains except the name ‘Palmer’s Run’ applied to a 
creek.” 

Although the writer of the above mentioned letter speaks of 
the house built by the Governor as a “Manor House,” there is 
no record yet found, that he claimed to be by virtue of this 
purchase a “Lord of the Manor.” Hence we may conclude 
that when Palmer sold the Manor of Cassiltown, it thereby 
ceased to exist as a Manor and is of no further interest to our 
Order. 


15 


THE MANOR OF FLETCHER 

This Manor, which deserves but brief attention, would not 
have been mentioned, had it not been identified by Edward 
Hagaman Hall, Esq., L.H.D., as what is called “Fishers Manor” 
on Colden’s Map of Manors. 

It lay in Orange County, N. Y., and was granted September 
20, 1694, by William and Mary through “Benjamin Fletcher 
our Captain General and Governor in Chief” to Captain John 
Evans “Commander of our Royal frigate the Richmond ” 

However by Chapter 79 of the Laws of the Colony, “Passed 
May 16, 1699” this grant was revoked and annulled and there¬ 
fore is not to be considered further. 

THE MANOR OF BENTLEY 

The account of this Manor has been reserved until the last, 
though the date of its grant was previous to that of the Fletcher 
Manor. It was granted May 6, 1687, by Governor Dongan to 
Captain Christopher Billopp of the ship “Bentley” and con¬ 
sisted of lands on the West side of Staten Island. 

The following report to “The Billopp House Committee” 
by its chairman, the late Ira K. Morris is herein reprinted by 
permission of his executor Cornelius G. Kolff, Esq., 

“The Preservation of the Old Billopp House 
“embracing an outline history of the premises, as well 

AS THOSE WHO HAVE FROM TIME TO TIME OCCUPIED THEM—ITS 

PRESENT AND FUTURE. 

“ It is considerably more than a year since the committee was 
appointed by this Association to ascertain if some provision 
could be made for the preservation of the Old Billopp House, 
and as so much time has elapsed, it may be proper to state that 
the committee has not been idle, but has done all within its 
power to perform its duty. Repeatedly the executors of the 
late General Lloyd Aspinwall were visited only to feel each time 
more forcibly the effects of ‘the law’s delay.’ Arrangements 
were made to secure proper legislation, provided we had the 
privilege to purchase the premises. The chief obstacle, one of 
the executors informed us, was, that while we desired to pur¬ 
chase only the Old Manor House and the plot of ground upon 
which it stands, they wanted to sell all the property to one 
purchaser, in order to close up the estate. Another obstacle, 

16 


as we thought at the time, was, that a land company had been 
organized and had made the executors an offer which they were 
giving their earnest consideration. Yet we did not give the 
matter up; we merely waited for future developments. The 
company to which we refer finally made the purchase, and there 
is every reason to believe that its members have caught the 
spirit of this Association, and are going to carry out our original 
programme. It seems at this time to be a matter of congratula¬ 
tion that the Bentley Manor Company has been able to purchase 
the valuable property, for we can now rest assured that the 
historical ‘battle monument,’ as it has been termed, will be 
jealously guarded and preserved. 

“As we cross the threshold of this ancient structure, our minds 
wander back through the dim avenues of history, and we recall 
so much that has aided not only to form the early records of our 
county, but to lay the very foundation of the nation. We 
go back to that memorable Summer day when the Island wood¬ 
lands were clothed in their richest verdure, and the winding 
trails of the Indian lay amid bowers of wild flowers, now and 
then leading up to an isolated Holland cottage or a rude cluster 
of wigwams. We glance across the quiet bay, glistening beneath 
the noonday sun, and we behold a small sailing vessel, after a 
tempestuous voyage of many weeks, drawing near to the port 
at the rude little hamlet of Perth Amboy. We witness, too, the 
dissensions and the clashing among men which sectional strife 
and personal interests have caused, until at last a half-fledged 
monarch places upon it all the strong hand of authority. We 
see the Duke of York, long before he drew near to the fulfilment 
of his cherished day dream of ascending the throne of England 
as King James the Second, deciding the fate of Staten Island; 
and this old house stands here today as a monument to the 
memory of that event. Up to the year 1668 it was a disputed 
question whether Staten Island belonged to New York or New 
Jersey, and, tired of the annoyance that this fact gave, the Duke 
decided that all islands lying in the harbor of New York which 
could be circumnavigated in twenty-four hours should remain 
in his jurisdiction, otherwise to belong to New Jersey. 

“Captain Christopher Billopp, the commander of the little 
vessel of which we have spoken, undertook, the task and was 
successful. In consideration of this service, the Duke presented 
Captain Billopp with a tract of land containing 1,163 acres. 
There and then he built this old house, and named it the c Manor 
of Bentley,’ in honor of the vessel which had performed the 

17 


great task. Most of the material was gathered on the planta¬ 
tion; but the cement, which holds the great thick walls together 
so firmly, came from England and the bricks from Belgium. 
Captain Billopp set to work to build the house shortly after he 
got possession of the land, but he did not receive his deed for 
the property until 1687. Shortly after his location on the 
Island he married a sister of Thomas Farmer, who was a Judge 
of this county in 1714, and afterward removed to Perth Amboy, 
where he became a prominent figure in the history of New 
Jersey. In 1674 a militia company was organized, by order of 
the King, and Billopp was appointed its second lieutenant. 
In 1677, while residing in this house, he was appointed com¬ 
mander and sub-collector for New York on Delaware bay and 
river. He is charged with having ‘misconducted’ himself by 
making ‘extravagant speeches in public,’ which were probably 
offensive to Governor Andros, who deprived him of his military 
commission. Billopp then retired to his plantation, ‘there to 
brood over the ingratitude of princes,’ as we have witnessed 
many another doing since Richmond became the ‘ banner 
county’ of the Empire State. He lived in retirement for two 
years, and we next hear of him joining his fellow citizens in 
preferring charges against his old persecutor, Governor Andros. 

“On the 22d of March, 1712, a little baby girl came to the 
home of the Billopps. They called her Eugenia. She was ten¬ 
derly reared within these walls, but before she grew to woman¬ 
hood must have learned only too well the bitter stings of sorrow. 
We have only tradition now to tell us that her father started 
to return to England in his little ship, but was never heard from 
again! 

“Eugenia married her cousin, Thomas Farmer, and to please 
those who desired to perpetuate the family name assumed it 
along with the property, and settled down for life in the Old 
Billopp House. As Thomas Farmer Billopp he is well known 
to all readers of history. He became a prominent citizen and 
held various military and civil offices. It is known that they 
had two children. The younger, Sallie, married Alexander 
Ross, of New Jersey, in 1775. The elder, a son, born in 1734, 
became the famous Colonel Christopher Billopp of the Revo¬ 
lutionary war. Thomas and Eugenia died comparatively 
young, and were buried in the family grave yard near their 
old home. It is no exaggeration to say that Christopher 
Billopp, when even a young man, rose to the rank of leader of 
men and measures in Richmond County. He was repeatedly 

18 


in the State councils and held various offices in the county. 
We once saw an original order issued by him, at his office in 
Richmond Village, signed ‘ Christopher Billopp, Chief of Police of 
Richmond County.’ That was about 1750. He raised and 
commanded a regiment of ‘ native loyalists’ and was commis¬ 
sioned Colonel by George the Third. His first wife, by whom 
two daughters were born, is unknown; but his second wife was 
Jane Seaman, daughter of Judge Benjamin Seaman, of Marsh¬ 
land (now Green Ridge), and the old house in which the 
marriage ceremony was held was demolished four or five years 
since. It stood by the Fresh Kill road on Mr. George W. 
White’s dairy farm. We once chatted with an aged colored 
woman who informed us that her mother was a slave in the 



Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Billopp 

Seaman family, and witnessed the marriage ceremony. Time 
does not permit us now to review the long and interesting record 
of this noted man. Suffice it to say, he was true to his convic¬ 
tions in supporting the parent government, and in this old home 
of his ancestors entertained many distinguished men in the 
service of the Crown. After the war, he left Staten Island with 
a portion of his family, and in 1783, with fifty-four other 
Royalists, petitioned Sir Guy Carleton for extensive grants of 
land in Nova Scotia. He soon went to New Brunswick and 
became prominent in the affairs of that province. He was a 
member of the House of Assembly, the Council, and on the 
death of Governor Smythe, in 1823, he claimed the Presidency 
of the government, and issued his proclamation accordingly; 

19 



but the Honorable Ward Chipman was a competitor for the 
positions, and was sworn into office. 

“Colonel Billopp died at St. John, N. B., in 1827, being then 
in his ninety-third year. His wife, twenty years his junior, 
died in the same city in 1802, aged forty-eight years. They had 
three sons—John, Willett and Thomas. They had a dry goods 
store on Broadway, New York City, in the vicinity of Trinity 
Church. John never married but fell a victim of yellow fever 
at the time the city was scourged by that terrible disease. 
Thomas married a Miss Moore, of Newtown, L. I., survived 
the fever, failed in business, joined the expedition of the cele¬ 
brated Miranda, in which he received an appointment as 
captain, and was taken prisoner by the Spaniards and after¬ 
ward executed. There were four daughters by the second wife. 
Louisa married John Wallace, Esq., surveyor of the customs. 
Mary married the Rev. Archdeacon Willis, of Nova Scotia, 
and died in Halifax in 1834, aged forty-three years. Jane 
became the wife of the Hon. William Black, of St. John, and 
died in 1836. Ann, the youngest daughter, never married. 
It is said by old residents of the Island that she was the last 
of the family to visit the dear old homestead. She went there 
in 1824 and gathered some flowers from an old trumpet creeper 
vine that was growing on the house, and some nuts and wild 
cherries from trees that were growing in the burial plot, and 
took them with her to her father in Nova Scotia. It is said 
that on beholding them the heart of the old Colonel melted and 
he wept like a child. 

“The Billopp estate was confiscated at the close of the Revolu¬ 
tion, and was sold by Isaac Stoutenburg and Philip Van 
Courtland, Commissioners of Forfeitures for the Southern 
District of New York. The sale, made on July 16th, 1784, 
was recorded as follows: 

“Sold to Thomas McFarren, of the city of New York, merchant, for the 
sum of four thousand six hundred and ninety-five pounds Lawful Money of 
the said state—All that certain Tract or parcel of Land situate Lying and 
being in the County of Richmond and Manor of Bentley, Bounded Southerly 
by the Bay or water called Prince’s Bay, westerly by the river that runs 
between the said Land and Amboy Northerly partly by the Land of Jacob 
Reckhow and partly by the road and Easterly partly by the road and partly 
by the Bay, Containing Eight hundred and fifty acres and half an acre and 
which said tract is divided into the several following Farms and Lots of 
Land—three hundred and seventy-three acres thereof in possession of 
Samuel Ward—Two hundred Acres in the possession of Albert Ryckman, 
Fifty-three acres in the possession of John Manner—Fifty-three acres in 
the possession of Andrew Prior—Twenty-five acres in the possession of 

20 


James Churchward, sixty-seven acres and a half acre in the possession of 
Benjamin Drake—Twenty-three acres and a half acre in the possession of 
Joseph Totten—Eleven acres and a half acre in the possession of Jacob 
Reckhow—Together with all the Buildings and Improvements thereon 
Erected and made Forfeited to and Vested in the People of this state by the 
Attainer of Christopher Billopp late of the County of Richmond Esquire.” 

“There is a lamentable incident in connection with the 
history of these premises. At the time that the property passed 
into the possession of the Aspinwalls the sacred ground of the 
old grave yard was heartlessly trespassed upon, and the moulder¬ 
ing bones of three generations of the Billopps—together with 
those of many a faithful old slave, and perchance some friendly 
Indians—were taken from their long resting place and carried 
away to a neighboring garden. The old brown stones, too, 
that had long marked the silent homes of the dead were carried 
away, and the little plot which for nearly two centuries had 
held the mortal remains of dear ones was thrown open to the 
commons. That such an act should have been committed in 
‘our day’ is a sad reflection upon our boasted civilization, and 
in the light of history resolves itself into an actual crime. 

Forty-three years ago, while that part of the property orig¬ 
inally purchased by the Wards belonged to a Mr. Parkinson, 
who had purchased it in 1836, Mr. Richard Christopher with 
his wife moved into the old house. There they have lived ever 
since. When the Bentley Manor Company took possession 
of the property, they permitted Mr. Christopher and his aged 
wife to remain, and he is employed to show the visitors through 
the rooms and explain to them what he knows about the old 
house and the noted people who have made it their home. The 
kind old man, whose hair is silvered with age, evidently feels 
very proud of his responsible position and performs his task to 
the best of his ability. 

“Accompanied by the general manager of the Bentley Manor 
Company, Mr. Richard S. Satterlee, we visited the house on 
Saturday last, (December 6th), and, with Mr. Christopher as 
guide, we went through every room and closet within it. There 
is the large hall in the centre of the building, apparently in its 
pristine condition. Mr. Satterlee has fitted up a little desk, 
where he keeps a register, and, on glancing over its pages we 
find the names of visitors from California, Pennsylvania, New 
York, Connecticut, Florida, Rhode Island, Wyoming, Illinois 
Washington, Michigan, and so on. Resting against the wall, 
on the right of the entrance, are the two famous brown head- 

21 


stones that have been familiar to every generation of Staten 
Islanders for considerably over a century. One stone had on 
it the old fashioned death’s-head and is badly nicked and bears 
this inscription: ‘Here lies ye body of Thomas Billopp, Esq., 
ye son of Thomas Farmer, Esq., Dec’d April ye 2d, 1750, in 
ye 39th year of his age.’ The other is badly broken and several 
of the pieces are lost. About eight years ago, in company with 
Mr. Frederic, W. Kost, the artist, the writer gathered up the 
fragments of this stone, which we found lying scattered around 



* ’'i»i' - 


Grave of Thomas Billopp 

the yard, and placed them together, hoping that some day we 
would have authority to remove them for safe keeping. But 
Mr. Satterlee has cemented the pieces together, placed them on 
some boards and the stone once more stands beside its old 
companion. It bears this inscription: ‘Here lies Eugenia, ye 
wife of Thomas Billopp, aged 23 years, Dec’d November ye 22d, 
1735.’ The old stones are a matter of much historical importance 
to all who visit the house, and are the indisputable proof-links 
in the genealogy of the Billopps. 


22 



“We next visited the old kitchen. There is the great fire 
place, really large enough for half a dozen men to stand in at a 
time, while at its back is the huge oven of which so much has 
been written. And there, too, it is remarkable to state, is the 
original iron trammel, and hanging to which are all the hooks 
and chains that were placed there more than two centuries ago. 
Above this, on the thick walls of the chimney, are the hooks on 
which, in days of yore, they used to hang their meat for smoking. 
The kitchen is in the low part, which also contains a sitting and 
dining room. There is a unique corner cupboard in the kitchen 
which formerly stood in one of the large front rooms. It bears 
evidence of once having been a receptacle for silver and other 
valuable wares. 

“A curiosity is the inside stairway to the basement. Little 
and big steps lead at right angles down into one of the most 
unique spots imaginable. Above are the great, whiteoak 
beams, so hard that it seems impossible to penetrate them with 
a knife blade, and they rest on a foundation of huge stones about 
four feet in thickness, and held together by a flint-like cement. 
In this old basement is laid one of the scenes in ‘The Water 
Witch/ one of Fennimore Cooper’s novels. The floor is of 
brick, and close beside the main entrance is a fire-place that 
compares with the one in the kitchen. This basement, there is 
every reason to believe, was originally used as a kitchen. In 
the rear of it—or rather, on the North side—is located a strange, 
dungeon-like cellar, which, tradition tells us, was used for 
imprisoning many a patriot of the Revolution, while the Billopp 
House was a British outpost. The theory has been advanced 
for many years that there was a secret subway from the base¬ 
ment down to the river, about two hundred yards distant. 
After the investigation on Saturday in ‘ the dungeon/ we think 
it is but fair to believe this theory. ‘Soundings’ taken in 
various pairts of the floor go to prove that there is a hollow place 
underneath. 

“The room on the right of the entrance to the main hall is 
undoubtedly the old parlor. It is the room, we believe, in which 
the famous interview was held between Lord Howe and John 
Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Edward Rutledge, shortly 
after the battle of Long Island. Lord Howe desired to dictate 
terms of peace, and the Continental Congress had appointed 
those men to learn what he had to say. Shortly after the 
capture of Colonel Billopp, and during his imprisonment in the 
military jail at Burlington, N. J., his family removed from the 

23 


old house, never to return. From that date on to the evacuation 
of the Island by the British it was used as a barrack by General 
Howe’s troops. It soon became very filthy, and on this occa¬ 
sion the room in which the interview was held was cleansed by 
order of the post commander, presumably Lieutenant-Colonel 
Wallace, of Colonel Billopp’s regiment. Along the sloping lawn 
in front of the house long lines of troops that formed the very 
flower of the English army were drawn, between which the dis¬ 
tinguished commander escorted his no less distinguished guests. 



Historic Interview at the Billopp House 


We need not here repeat the events of this memorable hour 
though it may have aided to form one of the most, interesting 
pages in American history. We all know that Lord Howe’s 
terms were rejected. Writing of the event many years after¬ 
ward, the late G. P. Disosway said: 

“ 'The momentous interview at the Old Billopp House, between 
the old world and the new, was an event regarded with extreme 
solicitude by the people of both at that day. With the develop¬ 
ments of time, it rises into the grandeur of a great battle-point 
and monument of history.’ The interview was brief. There 
was no agreement, no reconciliation. Independence was main¬ 
tained. The result was limned by the hand of God, and is seen 






in the progress of a continent and the achievements of century 
all over the world.’ The room is now totally devoid of furni¬ 
ture, save two old portrait paintings of Joseph Christopher and 
his wife, who were the host and hostess of old Richmond County 
Hall, in Richmond Village, about a half a century ago. The 
ancient fireplace is used to warm the welcome visitors, and the 
‘back-logs’ crackle and snap as of yore. The mantle is well 
covered with relics which Mr. Satterlee has collected about the 
premises, among which are bullets and various Indian imple¬ 
ments. During a recent reception given to the public in this 
room several valuable relics were carried away. The rude closet 
in one corner of this room is in itself worthy of a visit. 

“On the opposite side of the hall is what is generally believed 
to have been the dining room during the times of the Billopps. 
It was originally a very large room, but was divided by Mr. 
Christopher. One can easily picture in his mind some of the gay 
banquets that have been given in this old room; can imagine 
the powdered wigs and rich costumes gathered together in those 
old days at Bentley. What a charm they add to the willing 
imagination as the scenes come back to us only in the faded 
glory that serves to enchant the memory of the past. 

“On the second floor the rooms are naked and empty. There 
have evidently been no material changes in them during the two 
long centuries. But they are indeed a study within themselves. 
How many a soul has ‘dreampt through the curtain’d sleep’ 
in those old rooms that now sleep a deeper slumber in the 
ground! Plain, simple, rich with age and embellished with 
history—that’s all that can be said of them here. There were 
originally three rooms on the second floor, but there are four 
now. 

“The old garret—shades of boyhood, what reveries fill the 
mind up there! The strong whiteoak beams, morticed and 
braced in every direction, hard and firm with age, covered with 
great, long shingles that were undoubtedly the first to form the 
roof—how many have they protected from the sun, the wind and 
the rain! The old ‘slave quarters’ on the North end of the 
floor were torn away many years ago, and the garret is now one 
large room. For at least one hundred and fifty years the slaves 
of the Billopps, the Wards, and other masters slept in that old 
garret. During all that period Westfield contained more slaves 
than any other town in the county, and as the lord of the Manor 
of Bentley was always considered its leading as well as its 
wealthiest citizen, there is no room for doubt that the number 

25 


of slaves there exceeded that of any other property holder on 
Staten Island. The roof is badly out of repair, and the snow 
and rain beat through in many places. That will no doubt be 
looked after by the enterprising gentlemen into whose hands the 
old house has fortunately fallen. Among the superstitious 
there is an ill-founded tradition that a murder was committed 
in this garret some time prior to the Revolution; but as there is 
nothing in the Court records to substantiate the statement, we 
can put it down as one of those flimsy myths that almost 
always hover over the moss-covered walls of old buildings of 
this class. 

“The old house will need many repairs soon. The old doors 
and windows that were in service at the commencement are 
still there, but they are greatly worn, and in many places about 
the house there are evidences of the devastation and ruin of 
moth and rust. 

“Differing from the rule prevailing in recent years, a warm 
welcome greets the visitor nowadays. A cordial invitation is 
extended to everybody the wide world over. And it is a matter 
of congratulation that the general manager of the company, 
Mr. Richard S. Satterlee, is a gentleman of education and re¬ 
finement, full of veneration for the old house and its history, 
enthusiastic in the collection and preservation of relics pertaining 
to it, and is determined to do his part to keep the ancient land¬ 
mark for the delight and entertainment of even generations yet 
to come. 

“In an attempt to place the grounds surrounding the house 
in good order, evidences have been discovered to substantiate 
the theory that it once stood in the centre of a park. On 
both the North and South sides the foundations of stone walls 
that enclosed it were found a few days since. During the 
coming Spring the grounds will be neatly arranged. The well, 
with its ‘ old oaken bucket’ and ‘ sweep’ will be preserved with 
care. Its sparkling water and unique arrangement throughout 
will add a real charm to the scene. 

“The Bentley Manor Company has had the property sur¬ 
veyed and laid out with regard to convenience of access, ad¬ 
vantageous sites for residences and improved methods of drainage. 
The property is divided into blocks of various shapes and sizes. 
The company offers the property for sale for purposes of 
residence only. 

“The land will be sold in plots, containing any number of 
lots, under such restrictions as will secure it from the intro- 

26 


duction of any objectionable tenants or features. However, 
land will not be sold for speculation, and only those who intend 
to build will be encouraged to come. The character of the 
houses built will be controlled to a certain extent in so much as 
on certain streets and avenues single lots will not be sold, and 
any one purchasing in those localities will be expected to erect 
a house the minimum value of which shall be in keeping with 
the situation and neighboring houses. No liquor will be sold 
on the premises, and nuisances of all kinds will be excluded by 
the terms of the deed. 

“ So, after all, the Association need not feel that its work has 
been in vain. The effort to preserve the old house was a very 
laudable one, and we should feel thankful that while the task 



Old Well at the Billopp House 


was not performed by our hands it will be done by others, and 
will be done well.” 

A second account of this Manor, also included through the 
courtesy of Mr. Kolff, is taken from his invitation as President 
to the Members of The Staten Isand Chamber of Commerce, 
in which is this description of the Billopp House. 

“Near the most southerly point of the State of New York, 
facing the Staten Island and Sound and on its opposite shore, 
the City of Perth Amboy, stands the historic Billopp House. 
It is a landmark which is dear to the hearts of all those who take 
an interest in the history of our country and particularly the 
history of the State of New York and Staten Island. 

“It was built several hundred years ago on land given Chris¬ 
topher Billopp by the Duke of York as a reward for having saved 

27 



Staten Island for the Duke of York and consequently for the 
State of New York, by sailing around it in his famous sloop, 
the Bentley, in less than twenty-four hours. 

“During revolutionary times, it became famous as the place of 
rendezvous of General Howe, representing the British Govern¬ 
ment, and Benjamin Franklin, Edward Rutledge and John 
Adams, representing the Continental Congress at Philadelphia, 
in its effort to establish peace between the American colonies 
and Great Britain. 

“ During the strife between the revolting colonies and England 
it was occupied by a descendant of the original Billopp, Col. 
Christopher Billopp, an officer in the British Army, who was 
made prisoner by dare-devil American soldiers who stole across 
the sound in boats at night and made him a prisoner in his own 
house, conveyed him safely across the sound in a boat and sent 
him as a much prized prisoner to Trenton. 

“The place is full of historic interest. Frequent futile efforts 
have been made to pass legislation at Albany to secure it as a 
historic landmark. 

“To Borough President Van Name falls the honor of having 
at last succeeded in preserving this famous old building by 
embracing it within the lines of the New South Side Boulevard. 
It is therefore hoped that this historic old home will forever be 
retained for those worshipping at the shrine of American 
patriotism.” 

For the third account of the Manor of Bentley we are greatly 
indebted to the Editor of “Harper’s New Monthly Magazine’’ 
through whose kind permission, the following quotation is 
taken from an article entitled “A Spring Jaunt in Staten Island” 
as it appeared in the number of the Magazine for April 1878. 

“Then we drove to Tottenville, the southwestern extremity 
of the island, and a very pretty little town it is; but the inhab¬ 
itants that we met were given to a rashness of statement that 
caused us no little trouble. We were told that the old Billopp 
house, which we were searching for, was at the bottom of a 
certain street; at the bottom of that street we were told that it 
was at the top; at the top we were told to follow a certain hill: 
and an hour was lost through these unprovoked prevarications. 
At last, and in despair, we asked for directions from a venerable- 
looking old boy in a garden. ‘Ah, yes, the Billopp house!’ 
he said, and added, as though it was a particularly good joke, 
worthy of great emphasis, ‘ You call it the Billopp house, some 
calls it the Bently house, and I call it the old stone house.’ 

28 


He repeated this with much unction, and shook his head with an 
imbecile sort of satisfaction. This thing could not last forever, 
however, and we had conspired to make a hostage of some one, 
who should not be released until he delivered us at the Billopp 
house, when the patriarch’s intelligence experienced a lucid 
interval, and he put us on the right path. 

“ The Billopp house is one of the oldest buildings on the island. 
It is built of stone, on a bowery slope that overlooks the con¬ 
fluence of the Raritan and the Staten Island Sound. The 
walls are two or three feet thick, and the gable roof is preposter¬ 
ously high and steep. Its first owner was Christopher Billopp, 
and its history is exceedingly interesting. When the Duke of 
York had conveyed New Jersey to Berkley Carteret, a question 



was raised as to whether Staten Island was included in the 
grant, and to settle the matter it was decided that all islands in 
the bay or harbor should belong to New York if they could be 
circumnavigated in twenty-four hours. Christopher Billopp, 
who owned a small ship called the Bently , sailed around Staten 
Island in that time, and the duke gave Irm the tract of land, 
on part of which the house is built, in reward for his services. 
Another story states that Billopp was rewarded by the land for 
gallant service in a naval action. 

“It was in this old homestead that Franklin, Adams, and 
Edward Rutledge, of South Carolina, assembled to negotiate 
peace with Lord Howe after the battle of Long Island. The 


29 




meeting lasted four hours, and the Americans, who had been 
appointed by Congress, would not consent to any treaty that 
was not based on the acknowledged independence of the colonies. 
Here, too, Billopp entertained various distinguished guests, 
including Sir Henry Clinton, General Robertson, General 
Knyphausen, Major Andre, and others. He had a pretty wife, 
and was celebrated for his hospitality, but he subsequently 
fared roughly at the hands of the patriots, and his property was 
confiscated. 



“From Tottenville we returned to the city, each of the artists 
avowing his intention to come back again at a future day in 
search of more of the abundant picturesque materials, of 
which they carried numerous graphic evidences in their books.” 

From what we now know of the above mentioned Manors, 
the following conclusions may be drawn, viz.: 

That the grantee of the Manor of Fordham never became a 
“Lord of the Manor’’ in the true sense of the term, that the 
grantee of the Sophy Manor was dispossessed and surrendered 
his rights and position as a “Lord of the Manor,” that the 
Lord of the Manor of Fox Hall died childless and that therefore 
there are none now to represent him or his Manor, that the 

30 



Manor of Cassiltown was sold by its grantee almost imme¬ 
diately after it was granted to him and consequently ceased to 
exist as a Manor, that the grant of the Manor of Fletcher was 
revoked and annulled and finally that of the descendants of all 
of the grantees of the Manors to which our attention has been 
called in this address, those of Captain Billopp of the Manor of 
Bentley, alone are eligible to membership in our Order. 


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